O'Neill grad Wagner makes cut at The Barclays

The make-or-break shot for Johnson Wagner's Barclays Classic and his chance to stay alive in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Wagner was looking at 271 yards into the par-5, 18th green for his second shot. The 1998 James I. O'Neill graduate needed a birdie to get to even-par for the tournament and make the cut.

Wagner grabbed a 3-wood and gave it every ounce of energy he had. Two-hundred and fifty-nine yards later, the ball landed on the green, about 40 feet right of the cup as Wagner's Warriors, his fans, celebrated.

"The ball (during his second shot) could not have flown another inch," Wagner said. "I roasted it."

Two putts later, Wagner had his birdie. He pulled the ball out from the cup and threw it into his cheering section.

"There was a lot of pressure and these idiots (a fun jab at his friends rooting him on) made it harder," Wagner said. "This is huge. If I didn't make the cut here, I would be sitting out for three weeks."

Wagner was nervous after he woke up yesterday morning. He figured even-par would be the cut and after a 2-over 73 Thursday, he had some work to do.

"Then I said, 'I'm playing on the PGA Tour. I'm home playing in front a bunch of my friends. Life is good.'"

Wagner ensured himself of being home for two more days. And life can get better this weekend. Wagner is currently 127th in the FedEx standings. He needs to jump into the top 120 to play in the second of four playoffs at the Deutsche Bank Championship Thursday in Boston. Wagner has done the math.

"I need to be in the top 20 (at The Barclays) to make it," Wagner said. "It's good that I'm going out first (8:34 a.m.) tomorrow. It'll give me a chance to shoot a good round."

And you can bet Wagner's Warriors will be up bright and early cheering him on.